Cycling: Kiwi men pursuit team have an awesome future says coach

The youngest New Zealand men's pursuit team to leave New Zealand for at least 10 years had already achieved an awesome result, national cycling coach Max Vertongen said today.

The young and inexperienced team had made many countries at the World Cycling championships in Stuttgart, Germany, sit up and take notice when they qualified fourth fastest.

They race the strong Russian team in the quarterfinal at 8.45pm today (NZT) and if they get through they could be a strong contender for a medal.

The team of Heath Blackgrove, 22, Peter Latham, 19, Hayden Roulston, 22, and Marc Ryan, 20, produced an outstanding result to reach the quarter final stage.

"I am absolutely tickled pink considering it is a very, very young team. I am absolutely over the moon.

"We will give them (Russia) one hell of a run for their money but whether it is good enough to put them away I don't know."

If the New Zealand team beat the Russians they would meet France in the semifinal.

"If they get through, win lose or draw, I will be very happy. I am very happy now. I am quite excited. Win, lose or draw they can hold their heads up very, very, very high."

He said the team had an awesome future if they could stay together.

- NZPA